BassHappy Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) Hey Bass Chatters Just wondering, as a New Yorker, trying to figure out something. I have only seen what seems to be about a dozen Jonas Hellborg basses floating around over the past few years, at least in the U.S. Anyone know how many of them Warwick actually made? I was hoping that maybe a used one would come around now and then, but next to nothing. I love the whole concept of the bass, although pricey, and I love medium scale basses. The thing that has me wondering is this - I had emailed Warwick and asked about the Hellborg model - and asked if they would consider two pretty minor changes. First of all, I wanted them to make one without the ramp - I am a dedicated pick player (sorry, no apologies) and I had to have the one on my top shelf Alien removed. The ramp makes it literally impossible to play with a pick on the E string. When we applied the proper amount of heat the ramp fell off, only to leave a series of exacto knive cuts like this in the spruce top /////////////// - so the glue would stick. I solved the problem by cutting a very thin slice of rosewood veneer the exact size of the ramp, and glued it to the body to cover the unsightly knife cuts. Question one was - would they be able to make me one without the ramp to avoid the unsightliness? Question two was - being a pick player - I have always found that fretted instruments with ebony boards can sound really "klacky" in the mids. Of course, finger players have an amazing advantage here - my experience is that finger players and fretless players can do no better than ebony boards. They are perfect. But for us pick players the combination of the pick and the frets just create an overly bright mid range that is hard to dial out without tampering with the overall timbre of the bass. So, I asked if Warwick would consider building me a Hellborg with a rosewood board. Rob Allen happens to agree with me on this issue, and on my "Mouse" we used rosewood, but dyed it black to resemble ebony: So, my question is - what is the deal on these Hellborg basses? I get the impression that they made up a couple dozen and they have a few waiting in the wings or something - and don't want to make any more. My requests seem absolutely reasonable with respect to the outrageous price of the instruments, seems like if they were actively manufacturing them, they would be happy to honor my requests. I was more or less told - the bass is what it is - take it or not. Anyone know what the deal is? Best, BassHappy www.innertainment.net Edited June 15, 2014 by BassHappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I suppose it's like Mr Ford said, "you can have any colour as long as it's black". Because they're not a custom builder as such, they're probably not set up to make bespoke changes to their 'stock' products, and are happy they can shift the limited number of signature instruments at an exhorbitant price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmayhem Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) Or - simple as that - the bass is a signature model. Jonas Hellborg's signature model. Not yours. They won't change his specs for you. Maybe that simple. Edited June 15, 2014 by bassmayhem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) [quote name='bassmayhem' timestamp='1402860597' post='2477377'] Or - simple as that - the bass is a signature model. Jonas Hellborg's signature model. Not yours. They won't change his specs for you. Maybe that simple. [/quote] Yeah, right. In this economy? Let's all say no to $12K. We can afford it? I think not. They already made the run of Hellborg's and it's over baby. Simple as that. Just my opinion, I would love to be wrong. BassHappy www.innertainment.net Edited June 16, 2014 by BassHappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I think it does boil down to not wanting to change spec's of a sig instruement, in fact it does say on the Warwick Custom shop pricelist that you cannot customise a Sig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrythe8 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) ANd yet there is a sh*tload of modified Trujillo in the CS gallery. As for the Hellborg, I'd say they won't be making another run soon... But I guess that the best possible answer would come from Warwick : have you tried getting in touch with them ? Their customer service is very friendly. Edited June 16, 2014 by Henrythe8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 [quote name='Henrythe8' timestamp='1402919927' post='2477835'] ANd yet there is a sh*tload of modified Trujillo in the CS gallery. As for the Hellborg, I'd say they won't be making another run soon... But I guess that the best possible answer would come from Warwick : have you tried getting in touch with them ? Their customer service is very friendly. [/quote] I think all the customised Trujilo ones are for Rob Trujilo though, probably don't offer anything like that for regular punters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 When I worked for them it was policy not to offer CS options on a sig instrument. May have changed now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrythe8 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1402920131' post='2477839'] I think all the customised Trujilo ones are for Rob Trujilo though, probably don't offer anything like that for regular punters... [/quote] Well, that's a LoOOOooOot of basses ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) The funny part is - I am not asking them to "mod" anything - I just want them to leave off the ramp - IF they are actually building them. I did ask Warwick about leaving off the ramp - and the answer to me reveals clearly that they have no intention of making any more. On the ones that exist and remain unsold - removing the ramp will cause cosmetic damage (like my Alien) which they can't really repair - they would only be able to cover it up with a strip of veneer like I had to do, a cobb solution on a $12K instrument to be sure. No biggie, I would be a fool to pay that kind of price for one with a ramp or an ebony board, so all is good! BassHappy www.innertainment.net Edited June 17, 2014 by BassHappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerfish Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Surely at this price point you could commission one from someone else and still have change for a matching pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1402920131' post='2477839'] I think all the customised Trujilo ones are for Rob Trujilo though, probably don't offer anything like that for regular punters... [/quote] If Rob Trujilo his having his signature basses customised for himself, then surely the ones Warwick sell to ordinary customers aren't true "signature" basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402996665' post='2478579'] If Rob Trujilo his having his signature basses customised for himself, then surely the ones Warwick sell to ordinary customers aren't true "signature" basses. [/quote] It does seem a bit ridiculous, they've also got the non German made signature versions of most basses too, which are unlikley to ever be played by their endorsers, as they've got the fancier German made ones anyway... Seriously though, if you've got $12,000 to sp**k on a single bass, there's a lot of people out there that can make you EXACTLY what you want, probably for a lot less money too. As nice as the Hellborg bass probably is, I can't imagine it's actually going to be worth $12,000, I appreciate that's a moot point though Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 The Hellborg is very nice if you are Jonas, it sings for him but I could never get a workable tone out of the bloody thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Plus one to having a 'tribute' built. You've made a reasonable request and Warwick have made a choice. The Hellborg basses look very similar in profile to the instruments made by Abe Wechter...in fact I've just checked the Hellborg site and he has played a Wechter ("[url="http://www.hellborg.com/index.php/de/equipment/96-the-roman-bass-wechter"]The Roman Bass[/url]") in the past (below). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Thanks to all for chiming in! Now and then when you are treated on the unfair side - it is great to have a support group! Shifted my GAS focus a bit - now thinking along these lines.... Thanks again, BassHappy www.innertainment.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 With a version of the hellborg s pre in it or is it look,more than sound you are after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1403073189' post='2479369'] With a version of the hellborg s pre in it or is it look,more than sound you are after? [/quote] Of course, I love the sound that Jonas gets out of it and I love the fact that it is medium scale. Frankly, with that confounded ramp on there, I have never really been able to give one a proper spin. Here is what I had to do to the Alien, and what it looks like on the spruce top after removing the ramp: and with the veneer strip applied: The Hellborg would probably be pretty much the same under there. As a pick player, the ramp is simply debilitating and I don't think the music store or Warwick is gonna pull it off for you to try it! I am already quite spoiled: BassHappy www.innertainment.net Edited June 18, 2014 by BassHappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrythe8 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) OK, now you have to give the names and specs to all of those... Especially the two on the top right corner. And.. .is that a Fender Urge without à P ? Edited June 23, 2014 by Henrythe8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Henrythe8' timestamp='1403536547' post='2483673'] OK, now you have to give the names and specs to all of those... Especially the two on the top right corner. And.. .is that a Fender Urge without à P ? [/quote] Happy to. There is a gallery and build details listed on each one, and if you click on the URL to the right of each bass you will go to that bass in the gallery. When you are ready, simply keep scrolling down and it will take you to the construction diaries and/or history of each one. From Top Left to Right: PRS #11 from 1978: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/PRS-A.html"]http://www.innertain....net/PRS-A.html[/url] Custom Viola Bass Prototype - This is a bass I designed and had built for me: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/kennelldesigns.html"]http://www.innertain...elldesigns.html[/url] Custom Roscoe Bird's Eye Maple with RMC Midi System: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/roscoe1.html"]http://www.innertain...et/roscoe1.html[/url] Custom Roscoe Buckey Burl with RMC Midi System: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/roscoe2.html"]http://www.innertain...et/roscoe2.html[/url] Rob Allen "Mouse" with flamed and spalted maple top: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/roballen.html"]http://www.innertain...t/roballen.html[/url] Custom Andrew Drake Semi-Hollow "Wilma": [url="http://www.innertainment.net/drake.html"]http://www.innertain....net/drake.html[/url] Warwick Alien: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/alien.html"]http://www.innertain....net/alien.html[/url] Gretsch Electromatic B5123: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/gretsch.html"]http://www.innertain...et/gretsch.html[/url] 1951 Fender P: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/1951.html"]http://www.innertainment.net/1951.html[/url] 1954 Fender P: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/1954.html"]http://www.innertainment.net/1954.html[/url] Fender Telecaster: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/tbass.html"]http://www.innertain....net/tbass.html[/url] Fender "Hot Rod": [url="http://www.innertainment.net/hotrodbass.html"]http://www.innertain...hotrodbass.html[/url] Fender Jazz Bass: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/jazz.html"]http://www.innertainment.net/jazz.html[/url] Fender Jazz Special: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/jazzspecial.html"]http://www.innertain...azzspecial.html[/url] Fender Urge I Prototype: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/urge.html"]http://www.innertainment.net/urge.html[/url] Fender T-Bucket Acoustic: [url="http://www.innertainment.net/tbucket.html"]http://www.innertain...et/tbucket.html[/url] Some are custom, some were assembly projects, some are off the rack. The thing that most people find interesting is that - with the exception of the Rob Allen mouse - all fifteen basses are medium scale. The "Mouse" is short scale. Cheers, happy to answer any questions should there be any. If you want to hear my playing you can go to the juke box here: http://www.everythinghappytheman.com/music.html BassHappy www.innertainment.net Edited June 23, 2014 by BassHappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrythe8 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 OK. Now THIS is an Answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassHappy Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 [quote name='Henrythe8' timestamp='1403601287' post='2484229'] OK. Now THIS is an Answer. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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